Number 10

Purple Up for Military-Connected Students Tomorrow, April 17!

Show your support for our state's military-connected students tomorrow, April 17, by wearing purple to celebrate Purple Up Day!

The color purple represents all branches of the military, combining Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Marine red and Navy blue.

Number 9

K-12 Math Standards Draft 2 Stakeholder Review and Feedback

The NCDPI K-12 math team is excited to announce the release of the second draft of proposed revisions to the K-12 Math Standard Course of Study (SCOS). The purpose of this survey is to obtain input from stakeholders to inform additional revisions, which may include changes, clarifications, additions, deletions or replacements to the current standards and standards proposed in Draft 2.

The K-12 Math team requests your thoughtful input and comments on Draft 2. Your insights are a key part of informing and guiding the revision process. 

Explore the draft, review supporting resources and submit feedback through the public survey here. The deadline to provide feedback is May 18. 

Number 8

Office of Exceptional Children 2025-2026 Parent Survey - Special Education

NCDPI's Office of Exceptional Children, invites families of students receiving special education services to complete the 2025–26 Indicator 8 Parent Survey. This two-minute anonymous survey — available in multiple languages — helps guide improvements for students and families.

Take the survey here. Responses will be accepted through June 30.

Number 7

CFNC Resources for Decision Day

Decision Day is coming up on May 1, and College for North Carolina (CFNC) has resources to help you prepare!

Whether students have decided to go to college, enlist in the military or enter the workforce, high school seniors deserve to celebrate their choices.

CFNC has put together a handy toolkit with event ideas and templates for invites, celebratory social media posts and a blank pennant.

If you want to highlight your seniors but don't know what to do, check out the toolkit.

And if you need other ideas, we have two articles to help you out. One gives an overview of Decision Day, along with some examples from real schools. The other is a profile of a Decision Day event held at the Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington (Glow Academy) last Spring.

Number 6

NCVPS Digital Transition Webinars and On-Demand Courses for Educators

Join NCVPS' Digital Transition Webinar Series that share best practices for supporting students and teachers in online/blended learning environments. All participants leave with a toolkit of valuable resources, tips and strategies! Anyone in the field of education is welcome to attend. 

NCVPS is also adding an additional way to earn CEUs through Digital Transition on Demand (DTOD). DOTD is an initiative created as an expansion to the live Digital Transition Webinars for Educators series. Asynchronous (self-paced) micro-credential courses were developed via NCEd Cloud (NCEES). Interested individuals must be a current NC educator with access to NCEES to participate.

For more information and to view our current webinar or course offerings visit the NCVPS Digital Transition page.

Number 5

2026-27 NCCAT Honored Educator Scholarship Applications Open

Honored Educator Scholarships (HES) provide an opportunity for selected teachers to attend an NCCAT seminar of their choice. An HES covers all costs associated with participation in a NCCAT seminar, including program materials, instruction, food, lodging, transportation and a substitute teacher. The honored educator also receives $250 for use in the classroom.

Learn more and apply here. Applications for the 2026-27 school year are due on Thursday, April 30. 

Number 4

2026 Burroughs Wellcome Teacher of the Year to be Named Next Week

Don't forget to tune in next Friday, April 24, to see who will be named the 2026 Burroughs Wellcome North Carolina Teacher of the Year! 

The live stream begins at 12 p.m., and the ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m. Watch the 2026 Teacher of the Year ceremony livestream on NCDPI's YouTube. 

Learn more about the nine regional finalists in their own blog posts here.

Number 3

Skills for the Future Pilot Cohort 3 Launching Fall 2026

NCDPI's Office of Research and Promising Practices is proud to announce the expansion of the Skills for the Future Pilot with Cohort 3 starting in Fall 2026. Currently, Skills for the Future is in five districts and one charter school working with educators to help students develop durable skills to support post-secondary success.

This innovative program serves high school educators, support staff, school administrators and district leaders with professional development, networking and community development using the NCDPI Portrait of a Graduate resources.

Learn more about the opportunities for educators, schools and districts here. Meeting details for informational webinar sessions can be found below. 

• April 28, 9-10 a.m. - Register Here
• April 29, 4-5 p.m. - Register Here
• May 6, 9 -10 a.m. - Register Here

Number 2

NCBOLD 2026 Locations Announced

We’re excited to kick off planning for NCBOLD 2026 - and we’re coming to YOU!

This summer, we’ll host sessions across North Carolina, covering both the Western and Eastern regions:

West Week (July 21–23): Marion | Concord | Winston-Salem

East Week (July 28–30): Newport | Rocky Mount | Fayetteville

Registration coming soon! Stay tuned for more details.

Number 1

District Highlight: Dare County Schools - First Flight High School Students Take Flight in Aircraft They Built 

"The sky truly is the limit for our First Flight High School aviation students! ✈️

Today [Tuesday, April 14] marked another incredible milestone as two students took flight in the very aircraft they helped build for the first time. Jorge, a current senior, and Xander, a 2025 graduate, had the honor of the first student flights. Over the next two weeks, more students who contributed to the project will experience this unforgettable moment. Superintendent Steve Basnight, Assistant Superintendent Caitlin Spruill, and Career and Technical Education Director Dr. Shannon Castillo also took part in today's first flights.

This achievement reflects a true team effort, made possible by our students’ hard work, the leadership of Admiral Tynch, the dedication of our mentors, the partnership with the National Park Service, and the many district and school staff who supported the planning and logistics every step of the way.

The large crowd gathered this morning was a powerful reminder of our community’s support. Like the Wright Brothers, this achievement was made possible through collaboration, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who played a role in this historic accomplishment."

See photos from this incredible milestone and accomplishment here.